Paper burster gun



May 12, 1953 H. L. LANGOS 2,637,941

PAPER BURSTER GUN Filed Dec. 12,v 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N V EN TOR.

May l2, 1953 H. L. LANGOS PAPER BURSTER GUN Filed Deo. l2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1953 PAPER BURSTER GUN Harold L. Langes, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Langsn Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporae tion of Illinois Application December 12, 1949, Serial No. 132,458

d Claims. (Cl. dit-195) The present invention relates to toy guns or" the paper-bursting type, and more particularly to improved paper feeding means therefor.

In such guns, means are provided to feed the paper through the gun so as to present an unbroken area of the paper at the muzzle after a preceding portion of the paper has been burst, the feeding being accomplished by engagement of the feeding means with the paper during one stroke of the mechanism. Diiculty has been er@ perienced in the proper feeding of the paper, in that the paper" feeding means in some cases remains engaged with the paper during a return stroke, with the result that on the next feeding stroke the paper is not properly advanced.

In such guns', also, linkage mechanism is provided including the paper feeding means, this mechanism cooking apiston element during Working stroke and releasing the piston element to permit bursting of the paper at the end of the working stroke, thus' requiring a releasaiole or disengageable connection between the mechau nisin and the piston element. Such a' releasahle connection presents the difficulty that disengagement may possibly occurred prematurely, resuiting in improper operation of the gun, the only remedy heretofore 1oeingsuch care in manufacture as to produce'partsof relatively precise proportions, vvitn consequent increased manufacturing costs.

The present invention obv-iates these dinicuities by novely and' eiective yet simple and inexpensive means. The invention disclosed as ernbodied in two forms; in each o' which aguide elementis provided for preventing engagement oi' the paper eedir'lg"` means with the paper'during a return stroke. In the first form of the invention, meansA are provided for positively disengaging the linkage mechanism and piston element, which are releasably connected to move the piston element upon av Working stroke; The paper feeding means are so related to the engaging portion oi the linkage mechanism that disengagement troni the paper occurs as the linkage mechanism piston element are engaged. rlhe discngaging means comprises a cani surface so fixed the path of the linkage.l portion as to he operative at the end of the working stroke, and the guiding element affords a surface or side on which the engaging portion bears after its disengagement from the piston element and during its return stroke, so' as' to hold the paper feeding means disengaged from the paper during such return stroke. In the application of Otto A., Langes, Serial No 853, filed January 7,I k 1943,entitledSeli Feedingv Paper Bursti-ng Toy Gun, now matured into Patent No. 2,499,991, which was reissued asv Re. 23,385, there are disclosed improved.operat-a ing and paper feeding means which include releasaloly connected portions which all together overcome the difficulties mentioned. The present invention provid-es other improved means for curing such defects.

in the o her form of the invention disclosed, the engaging portion of the mechanism and the piston element are so formed that disengagement occurs at the end ci' the working stroke without requiring the employment of other parts to ac-4 complish disengagement, and is likely to occur during tre wording stroke unless positive means are pro V to prev-ent the same, The guiding element in this foi-in has one side adapted to he engaged by the engaging portion of the mechanisro so as to hold the mechanism` and piston elenent in positive connection during the Working stroke, and another side on which the engaging portion hears during the' return stroke, as in the iirst The disengaging inea-ns irl this form serves only as a guide to bring the engaging'A portion of the mechanism into position for engage'- ment with the other side of the guide element.

lt is an ol'oject of the invention' to provide a paper-bursting gun or similar toy having ari-irnproved paper-feeding arrangement whereby the disadvantages mentioned above are obviated.

Another object is the provision of a guiding elem-ent in a gun of the type described which serves to positively maintain the paper-feeding means out of contact with the paper during a return stroke of the operating, mechanism.

[i 'further object oi the invention is to provide a guiding element which serves to positively maintain releasaoly connected parts of the gun mechanism against disconnection during a Working stroke thereof.

lt is a still further object of the inventiony to provide a guiding element in a paper bursting gun, or the like, which maintains releasably oonneoted parts oi the gun mechanism against dise connection during a working stroke thereof, and maintains paper-feed ineens which comprise a portion of said mechanism out of Contact with the paper during a return stroke thereof upon disengagement of said parts.

lt is also an object to provide a positively operating paper-i`eedng arrangement by means which are novel, eii'eotive, simple and economical.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other objects and features thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with a part of the housing broken away, of one form of a gun embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts of the gun mechanism in a different position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing the parts of the mechanism in still another position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the gun as shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially Ialong the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. l, but showing a different form of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts of the gun mechanism in another position;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Figs. 6 and 7, but

showing the parts of the mechanism in a third position;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the mechanism connecting structure of Fig. 1, but actually the preferred means for use in both the Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the gun comprises a housing I0, preferably of two longitudinally divided sections in die-cast metal which may be secured together by any suitable means, as the rivet II, and include a handle or grip I2 and a forward muzzle portion I3. The muzzle portion I3 with three slots L therein amplies the report of bursting paper in the gun. and enhances the similarity to a regular gun in the appearance of this gun. The three slots are provided in each of the cast halves of the housing, and are positioned consecutively in the muzzle or barrel portion from a point immediately adjacent the paper explosion orifice. In a commercial embodiment three slots have been found to provide the maximum noise effect with a lesser number of the size illustrated insuflicient and a greater number unnecessary and simply adding to the die complexity @and disguring the gun. At the rear end of the muzzle portion I3 is an apertured breech I4. Disposed rearwardly of the breech aligned with the muzzle portion I3 is a movable cylinder I5 open at both ends, an inturned flange IB being formed on its forward end which engages in a peripheral groove of a grommet I'I of spongy rubber or similar material to hold the grommet assembled with the cylinder. A piston I8 fits snugly in the cylinder I5, and has a piston rod I3, which may be a flat strip, extending therefrom out of the rear end of the cylinder and guided for sliding movement in substantially a straight line by a housing lug and an aperture ZI at the butt end of the housing through which it may project. A relatively strong spring 22 is disposed about the piston rod I9 between the piston and the housing lug 20, which normally urges the piston I8 and the cylinder I3 forwardly against the breech I4. The spring 22 is designed so that it is at least equal in ultimate compression strength to the break test factor of the paper used in the gun. It is particularly desirable to maintain as close tolerance as practical on this. for if the spring is too strong it requires an unnecessarily large pressure on the trigger.

A paper magazine 23 integral with the gun I4 in the housing and substantially 4 housing I0 is provided below the cylinder I5. for holding a roll R of paper P, which may be inserted therein through an opening in the forward and lower portion thereof, and prevented from falling therefrom by a generally U-shaped strap 24 pivoted on the magazine. Suitable projections 25 and 26 may be formed on a partition in the housing below the cylinder I5, and extend into the magazine 23 to assist in maintaining the roll in proper position. The magazine is in communication with the interior of the housing. The paper P is led upwardly from the magazine between the breech I4 and grommet I'I when they are separated `as in Fig. 3, and rearwardly therefrom through a paper guideway G, from which it projects at the butt end of the housing Il, so that it may be torn off from time to time.

The guideway G is formed integrally with the housing I 0 by flanges 2T spaced above and extending over the top wall 28 of the housing. An aperture 29 is formed in the wall 28 below one of the flanges 21. The paper P passes over the top wall 28 and aperture 29 and beneath the flanges 21, which preferably have their adjacent edges spaced apart to facilitate threading of the paper through the guideway and to permit viewing of the paper therein. A transverse slot 30 is provided in the'partition between the cylinder I5 and magazine 23 adjacent the breech I4, and a similar slot 3I is provided in the top wall 28, to permit passage of the paper P from the magazine between the cylinder and breech and rearwardly through the guideway. The forward projection 25 of the partition guides the paper through the slot 30 to facilitate initial threading thereof.

Linkage mechanism for operating the piston I 8 is provided, and as shown includes a trigger 32 which is pivoted at its upper portion on the rivet I. A link 33 is pivoted to the trigger by a suitable pin 34 or the like, at a point spaced below the pivot II. At its other end, the link 33 carries a stud 35, and also carries paper feeding means which include the pawl 3S, which in the commercial embodiment is made of rubber and this is preferred. However the complete paper feeding structure including the housing portion is all such that satisfactory feeding is obtained with the pawl made from any material. The paper feeding means extend beyond the stud 35, so that the pawl 36 may extend through the aperture 29 in the wall 28, and engage against the paper P in the guideway, pressing it against the inner surface of the flange 27 disposed thereabove. The paperfeeding means are formed to move with the link 33 as a unit. For this purpose, the link 33 may as shown be conveniently formed of elongated U-shape with the longer arm carrying the pawl 35. The stud 35 may extend through both arms. projecting outwardly of the shorter arm adjacent its end.

Means are provided to urge the linkage mechanism toward the normal or idle position, shown in Fig. 1, the means in this instance being shown as a suitable spring 31 coiled about the pivot 34, with one end bearing against a portion cf the link 33 below the pivot 34 and the other end against the rivet II. The lower edge ofthe piston rod I9 is provided with a suitable recess 38 to provide a shoulder against which the stud 35 may bear to move the piston rod rearwardly in the housing upon a working stroke of the mechanism, and preferably the construction -is tween the grommet and the breech I4, and at the same time the pawl 36 is in engagement with the paper in the guideway and drawing it rearwardly so as to unroll a fresh section from the roll R, in the magazine 23 and draw it upwardly into position at the breech.

The pin lil is in engagement with the forward part of the slot d3, as will readily be understood, during the cooking movement while an opening corresponding in size to the distance of travel of the pin 44 in the slot 43 provides free movement of the paper between the grommet and breech. During the rst portion of the working stroke of the trigger 32, the pin 44, while engaging the forward end of the slot 43, as shown in Fig. 3, is farther tothe rear than during the latter portion of the stroke, as shown in Fig. 2, where the trigger is just about to begin its return movement to normal position. Between these two positions of the pin lit, which in the present instance may be described for convenience as rearwardly or forwardly relative to the rivet i I, the pin moves suiiiciently forward to move the cylinder l back to its forward position clamping the paper P against the breech I4, overcoming the resistance of the spring 41,5. It will be seen that the linkage mechanism provides a toggle action, with the link 33 thrusting rearwardly and the link QI acting forwardly. The arrangement and proportion of the various parts is such that the grommet il clamps the paper against the breech and seals against the paper just as the link 33 and piston rod i9 are disengaged as already described. In other words, the lost motion in the pin and slot connection between the trigge and link 4I is taken up during the working stroke of the trigger 32 and the cylinder moved into its sealing and clamping position before the piston I8 completes its compressive stroke. Upon the disengagement of the piston rod and link 33, as already explained, the pawl 35 is maintained out of contact with the paper P in the guideway during the return stroke and until the parts have returned to the normal or idle position.

The second form of the invention disclosed, illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, is in the main substantialiy similar to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, and the same reference numerals are employed to designate the various parts ci the gun except for such parts as diier substantially from the disclosure of the iirst form.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, it will be seen that all of the parts are substantially the same as in the first form of the invention just described, except that instead of the stud 35, the link 33 is provided with a pin E@ secured in the two arms ci the and projecting through the shorter arm, in substantially the same manner as the stud ci the iii-st form. J ournalled on the pin 59 between the two arms of the link 33 is a roller 5i of any suitable material. The diameter of the roller 5i is considerably greater than that o the stud 35, and is sufficiently great so that the roller when engaged in the recess 3S of the piston rod lil has its center disposed outside of the recess. It will be apparent that on the working stroke ci the mechanism, therefore, the roller will tend to move out of the recess 38, particularly toward the end of the Working stroke, as the link 3? comes closer to parallelism With the piston rod le and the longitudinal coinponent of the force it exerts on the piston rod increases. Thus at the end of the working stroke, the roller 5l will disengage from the piston rod 8. without requiring the use of cam means or the like to force it out of the recess.

To prevent the premature disengagement of the roller 5i from the recess 38 of the piston rod, the guide element 40 is employed as a retaining means. This corresponds generally to the guide element Ll() of the Fig. 1 embodiment except that it is positioned further from the lower edge of the piston rod I9. The pin 50 engages upon the upper surface of the guide element :l0 during the working stroke, as best shown in Fig. 7, and thus prevents the roller from moving downwardly out of the recess 38. During this working stroke, the pawl 36 advances the paper feed in the same manner as described in connection with the iirst form, the action of the cylinder l5 under the iniiuence of the spring 45 and the engagement between the pin 44 of the trigger 32 in the slot 43 of the link H also being the same. When the end of the Working stroke is reached, the roller 5I disengages from the recess 3S under the influence oi the thrust of the link t3, simultaneously disengaging the pawl 35 from the paper, and the end of the short arrn of the link 33 engages against the cam projection 39 to limit the rearward movenient of the roller 3i and pin 5! and guide the same beneath the guide element lit inasmuch as normally there is still some gripping pressure on the trigger 32 urging the link 33 slightly rcarwardly. rThe cam projection 3d in this forni of the invention is contemplated as primarily a guide means, but the releasing action vis so sudden that should manufacturing tolerances make possible a rearward movement of the piston rod i9 and link 33 such that they are notcompieteiy disengaged when the pin or stud 5t goes on the top surface oi the guide member di); then the projection 39 might have a slight camining and releasing function supplementing the releasing action due to the roller and recess construction and the angular position thereof. At any rate, after the link 33 and piston rod i9 are disengaged at the end of the working stroke, the return stroke is made under the influence of the spring 3l', with the pin t) engaging on the lower surface of the guide element lill to hold the pawl St out of contact with the paper feed during the return stroke, in the saine manner as described in connecti n with the first form of the invention. After the end of the return stroke, as the parts come to the normal or idle position, the roller 5| is again engaged in the recess 38 as the pin 5o passes on the forward end of the guide element liti.

In Fig. 6, the parts are shown in the normal or idle position, while in Fig. the position of the parts is illustrated at one point during the working stroke. Fig. 8 shows the parts just after disengagement of the link 33 and piston rod i9 at the end of the working stroke, and just as the return stroke is beginning. From this position, the parts return to the position shown in Fig. 6.

It will be seen that in the form oi Figs. l to 5, inclusive, the guide element lit serves primarily to maintain the paper feed means out of Contact with the paper during the return stroke, and the cam projection@ is provided in order to effect disengagement between the linkage mechanism and piston rod. In the form illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, the element dii' is provided both to maintain the link 33 and piston rod lf3 in engagement throughout the working stroke, as well as maintaining the pawl 3G in contact with the paper P to feed the same, and also to maintain the parts disengaged, particularly the feed pawl 36 disengaged from the paper, during the re acens/i1 turn stroke. The 4cam projection 3s, instead of serving as a means for causing disengagement of the parts, at least as its primary function, serves as a means for guiding and limiting the movement or the link .it so as to insure engagement or the pin Si? on the underside .of the guide element itil so as to prevent contact of the pawl against the paper P.

The structure of Fig. l0 can be substituted for the pins, studs, and rollers of both forms just described.

it will be apparent from the foregoing description that have provided a toy paper-bursting gun which incorporates the advantages and features, and accomplishes the objects, hereinabove referred to.

It may also be pointed out that the specific parts disclosed may be considerably altered without departing from the principles of the invention. Thus, the recess 3d in the bottom edge oi the piston rod might be replaced by a pair of pins or studs on one or both races of the piston rod against which the stud 35 might bear, the spacing of the pins serving as a recess and their positions assuring retention of the pin during the working stroke. Again, the pins might be so arranged for engagement by the roller Si@ as to assure its disengagement therefrom in the same manner as in the case of the recess 33. Actually, in any such structure there is engagement between a shoulder means on the piston rod and an engaging portion at the top or top portion oi the link as 33. Other release-ble connections may similarly be employed.

It is not necessary that the paper feed means be integral, or even move as a unitary structure with the link 33, so long as the feeding means are so related to the linkage mechanism that the pawl is engaged with the paper during the Working stroke and disengaged therefrom at the end of the stroke and maintained out or" engagement therewith during the return stroke. The linkage mechanism may also be considerably varied in other respects yet operate in the desired manner. Further, the guide element iii need not be integral with the housing half, but may consist of a part secured to the inside of the housing.

It will therefore appear that the embodiments of the invention disclosed may be varied in many respects without departing from the inventive concept. Some of the possible modications and changes have been pointed out or suggested, hereinabove, and others will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended to include such modications within the scope or the appended claims.

I claim:

1. 1n a paper-borstel' gun having paper feedable therethrough and including a gun housing, paper bursting means including a member movably mounted in said housing and an element movable to sealingly clamp said paper for bursting thereof and to release said paper for feeding thereof and normally held in clamping position by said movable member and released thereby upon movement thereof to cocked position, and also including means biasing said element to releasing position, the combination including linkage mechanism movably mounted in said housing and including a trigger pivoted in said housing, a link having one end pivoted to said trigger at a point spaced in one direction from said trigger pivot and having its other end releasably engaged with said movable member to move the same in a working stroke, and means providing a lost motion connection between said movable element and said trigger spaced from said trigger pivot in a direction substantially 5 opposite said one direction permitting releasing movement of said movable element during the initial. part of the working stroke, said mechanism aiording a toggle action during said working stroke to move said movable member to cocked position by engagement of said link and movable member and to move said movable element to clamping position by said triggerv during the latter part of said working stroke after movement or said element to releasing position by said biasing means, paper feed means connected for synchronized movement with said link and engageable with said paper duringv said workstroke to reed said paper while said movable element is in a releasing position, means for disengaging said link and movable member and said feed means and paper at the end of said working stroke, and a guide surface within 'the housing for maintaining said feed means disengaged from said paper during a return stroke 5 or the mechanism.

2. In a paper-burster gun having a housing and having ieodable and burstable paper therein as Well as means including movable piston means for developing air pressure to burst the paper, the combination including mechanism for interconnection and disconnection with the piston means to cock the piston means and to feed the paper cornprisimY linkage having paper leed means and projecting engaging means thereon, with the latter adapted to mechanically connect with the piston means to move the same and with said paper feed means at the same time adapted to engage and move the paper, a hired cam within the housing engagea-ble by said engaging means contemporaneously with the disconnection or the latter from the piston means 1with said paper iced means on said linkage moving in accordance with said engaging means, said fixed cam displacing said engaging means downwardly and said paper feed means moving therewith away from connection with the paper, and a iixed projection within the housing spaced from said Fixed cam adapted to be engaged engaging means substantially at the end of dorvnwar: movement, said nxed projection being of a length less than the total distance of the return movement of the paper feed means and engaging means on said linkage, and by the engagement of the engaging means therewith said lined projection is adapted to guide the paper feed means and maintain the same out of engagement with the paper on such return movement.

3. ln paper-bolster gun having a housing having feedable and burstable paper thereweil as means including movable piston r developing air pressure to burst the aving therewith a piston rod with a deion. indi-ding mechanism for interconnection disconnect with the piston rod to cock the piston means to feed the paper come having thereon paper feed means a r ter-ally projecting engaging portion, with 70 the r adapted to mechanically connect with the l: g .s n the piston rod to move the and w l said feed means adapted to o age and move the paper, a dried cam within th @using engagea-ble by said engaging portion contcmporaneously with the disconnection of the same from the piston rod and with said paper feed means on said linkage moving in accordance with said engaging portion, with said iixed cam displacing said engaging portion downwardly and said paper feed means moving therewith away from connection with the paper, and a fixed longitudinal projection within the housing spaced from said iixed cam adapted to be engaged on one side thereof by said engaging portion to maintain said engaging portion in said piston rod depression during a cooking movement of the piston rod and adapted to be engaged by said engaging portion on the opposite side thereof substantially at the end of the downward movement, said xed projection being shorter than the distance of the return movement of the engaging portion and the paper feed means to accomplish the guid ing of the paper feed means to maintain the same out of engagement with the paper on such return movement.

4. In a paper-burster gun having a housing and having therein feedable and burstable paper of a somewhat fragile character as well as means including movable piston means for developing air pressure to burst such paper, having therewith a piston rod with a depression on the underside thereof, the combination including mechanism for interconnection and disconnection with the piston rod to cock the piston means and to feed the paper comprising linkage having thereon paper feed means with a friction portion to contact the paper and a laterally projecting engaging portion, with the latter adapted to mechanically connect with the depression in the piston rod to move the same, and with said paper feed means adapted to engage the paper at the friction portion and move the paper, a fixed cam within the housing engageable by said engaging portion contemporaneously with the disconnection of the same from the piston rod and acting to accomplish the disconnection and to move the engaging portion downwardly, with said paper feed means on said linkage moving in accordance with said engaging portion and away from connection with the paper, and a xed longitudinal projection within the housing spaced from said xed cam and in a position relative to the Inovement of the engaging portion to receive the same substantially at the end of its said downward movement, said iixed projection being shorter than the distance of the return movement of the engaging portion and. the paper feed means to accomplish the guiding of the paper feed means to maintain the friction portion of the same out of engagement with the paper on such return movement.

HAROLD L. LANG-OS,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,240,990 Lefever Sept. 25, 1917 1,304,975 Helsel May 27, 1919 1,511,718 Burger Oct. 14, 1924 2,083,535 Langos June 8, 1937 2,302,963 Lefever Nov. 24, 1942 2,364,051 Berridge Dec. 5, 1944 2,490,991 Langes Dec. 13, 1949 2,553,388 Steiner et al May 15, 1951 

